Hanover Township, FedEx move toward megahub deal

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

FILE - DECEMBER 26, 2013: It was reported that UPS and FedEx are working to catch up on deliveries after failing to make some customer's orders in time for Christmas following an unexpected increase in volume of shipments December 26, 2013. SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 19: FedEx workers unload packages from a delivery truck on June 19, 2013 in San Francisco, California. FedEx, the world's second-largest delivery service, reported a 45 percent decline in fourth quarter profits with earnings of $303 million, or 95 cents per share compared to $550 million, or $1.73 per share one year ago.(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 171089306

FILE - DECEMBER 26, 2013: It was reported that UPS and FedEx are working to catch up on deliveries after failing to make some customer's orders in time for Christmas following an unexpected increase in volume of shipments December 26, 2013. SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 19: FedEx workers unload packages from a delivery truck on June 19, 2013 in San Francisco, California. FedEx, the world's second-largest delivery service, reported a 45 percent decline in fourth quarter profits with earnings of $303 million, or 95 cents per share compared to $550 million, or $1.73 per share one year ago.(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 171089306 (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

Meghan Moravcik WalbertSpecial to The Morning Call

Hanover Township Council ultimately must sign off on the FedEx roadwork

The proposed FedEx Ground megahub in Allen Township cleared a major hurdle Wednesday night with a preliminary nod of approval from neighboring Hanover Township.

Leaders of the Lehigh County community have been voicing concerns for months that they would be saddled with all of the traffic from the $335 million distribution center but would reap none of its financial benefits.

Hanover ultimately must sign off on the roadwork necessary within its borders.

A meeting involving Township Council, the project's developer and a representative from the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority on Wednesday night yielded some concessions on the part of FedEx and some forward movement on the part of the township.

To start, the airport authority and the developer pledged to release and develop 35 acres split over two parcels in order to bring additional tax revenue into Hanover.

Currently the authority — which runs Lehigh Valley International Airport, Queen City Airport and Braden Airpark — owns more than half of the land in Hanover, and that land yields virtually no revenue for the township.

Lehigh Valley International Airport holds an open house. The meeting, open to the public, was held to give people a chance to question officials. (APRIL BARTHOLOMEW / THE MORNING CALL)

The first area that will be marked for development is a triangular, 27-acre parcel on Willowbrook Road south of Willow Brook Farms and north of Race Street. An attorney for project developer Rockefeller Group told council members that Rockefeller intends to develop that land.

"We want to build something there is market demand for," said the attorney, Joseph Fitzpatrick Jr. "We will make sure it's quality."

The second parcel sits on Airport Road and is estimated to be 41/2 to 11 acres.

Fitzpatrick also told council members that maintenance of Hanover-owned Willowbrook Road will fall on Allen's shoulders.

Ultimately, a formal agreement will need to be drafted to name Allen as responsible for all repairs and maintenance, including snow plowing, on the 3,300-foot stretch of road that runs through Hanover.

"Allen Township is on the hook for that, and they have agreed to it," Fitzpatrick said.

Finally, the developer has pledged to buy sewer capacity from Hanover, which is expected to net the township about $11,000, depending on how much capacity is purchased.

"The township's stated concerns and needs will be adequately addressed," Fitzpatrick said. "You're here in good faith and so are we, and we'd like you to take that next step."

Council unanimously agreed to allow the township's solicitor and engineer to work directly with Rockefeller representatives to begin to draft the necessary legal agreements. Council still will need to approve those agreements for the project to continue moving forward.

After the meeting, council Chairman Bruce Paulus said the conversation went as he expected. Although Rockefeller officials offered Hanover no direct compensation, Paulus said he is "hoping that's still coming."